should i even level ast?

[MitsukiKimura]

You'll love it at 80 for Neutral sect then hate the card system eventually for being dull and lazy. Astrologian used to be a lot of fun now they killed it and it's basically just boost damage only with a lackluster card system that needs to change or go back to the old system

[Lodi]

You'll be busy, that's for sure. But who knows if you will find it rewarding.

[Aurturia]

I personally haven't enjoyed healing at all this expansion but i still want to 80 everything. I decided to get whm and ast done with beasy tribes. Its not the fastest way to get it done but its just a 10 minute daily chore.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

Of course give it a go. The card system is nowhere near as good, but overall AST is a solid healer that can easily cover both mitigation and healing and provide more overall DPS than even a WHM.

Also it's worth noting that MP issues is only a problem when DPSing heavily, which I personally suggest every healer do, but the fact is a lot don't, and if you just like to heal and throw out the occasional DPS spell then AST is a fine MP-wise.

[Brandedblade]

its my last healer to level, but everything i read about it makes me not want to even touch it. no varied card effects just sounds like brainless draw spamming and feeding them to dps at all times. ast also have always had weak dps so theres nothing exciting like playign whm tryign to outdps the dps and sch used to be THE healer dps

It's nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be, 5.1 ast has been buffed significantly compared to 5.0. You have amazing ogcd efficiency with your Malefic IV and Gravity cast times. AST is the only healer in the game that, when played optimally, does not loose damage from weaving its ogcds.

Your cards may initially seem bland, but regardless they're still a support mechanic that you manage externally from healing and can still optimize. Proper card +Divination use gives a decent amount of damage to your group. Usually your rdps is about 800-1400 higher then your actual dps thanks to it. Not to mention that 5.1 has buffed its Malefic and Combust damage to be more significant (Combust more so then Malefic).

[Corbeau]

AST isn't exceptionally bad, it's just got the same fundamental issues that all healers in this game currently share. If you want to heal then AST is a perfectly acceptable choice.

[Rasikko]

Those feels when you do not have Benediction and 4 freaking instant heals at your disposal.

[Brandedblade]

Those feels when you do not have Benediction and 4 freaking instant heals at your disposal.

1-2 charges of Essential Dignity, Celestial Intersection, Celestial Opposition, Collective Unconscious and technically Horoscope and Earthly Star, but those last two are a technicality due to needing setup. I wont argue Benediction since that's... well... Benediction. But still.

[JowyAtreides]

Amaro is best boy, do it for the Amaro.

[Saefinn]

Plus do you want AST to have exactly what WHM has got? Some of us are already complaining healers are too similar.

However, as Branded rightly points out, AST has plenty in the way of insta casts. I've never felt I've been without in terms of healing.

Plus, we all know, Benediction never goes off anyway. :P